Fountain

691/0/10028 HIGH STREET Fountain

II

Also Known As: Fountain, ST MICHAEL'S ROAD Fountain. C. 1938. Sculpted and designed by John Hodge, cast by Messrs. Burton of Thames Ditton. Concrete circular bowl with cancave sides on the rim of which stand 4 bronze statues of seals with water issuing from their mouths. At the centre is a large bronze nautilus shell born upwards by a raft of bronze lilly pads which supports the sculpture of a nearly naked boy with legs astride holding a fish in each hand, each of which spouts water, and with an otter at his feet. To one side of the shell is an inscription: "THE GIFT OF/WILLIAM JULIAN COURTAULD ESQ.JP./OF PENYPOT HALSTEAD/ [Coat of arms]/TO THE TOWN OF BRAINTREE/IN MEMORY OF/KING GEORGE V".

The fountain forms a very distinct addition to the urban scenery at this crucial point in Braintree where several roads converge. This fountain exhibits a good deal of playfulness. It forms a group with the Church of St. Michael the Archangel [q.v.]